Ricard Nouveau is an S-class connoisseur featured in the Pokémon anime series. Tasked by Mr. Hatterly with selecting the perfect starter Pokémon for his daughter Marigold, Ricard evaluated candidates within Mr. Hatterly's garden. He initially proposed Petilil, later suggesting Whimsicott as the ideal choice. This recommendation directly opposed the opinion of Cilan. To settle their professional disagreement, Ricard battled Cilan using his Purrloin against Cilan's Crustle. Ricard lost the battle. Observing Marigold's established bond with a Foongus she had befriended, Ricard acknowledged his error. He conceded Cilan's judgment about the connection between Marigold and Foongus was correct and praised Cilan for his deduction. This encounter established Ricard as a memorable opponent for Cilan, who later recalled their clash during a subsequent battle against another trainer, Morana.